{{Arelecbanner12}}{{Arsenate2012toc}}Elections for the office of [[Arkansas State Senate]] will be held in [[Arkansas]] on [[State legislative elections, 2012|November 6, 2012]]. A '''total of 35 seats''' will be up for election.

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{{Arelecbanner12}}{{Arsenate2012toc}}Elections for the office of [[Arkansas State Senate]] were held in [[Arkansas]] on [[State legislative elections, 2012|November 6, 2012]]. A '''total of 35 seats''' were up for election.

The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was March 1, 2012. The primary election day was May 22, 2012.

The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was March 1, 2012. The primary election day was May 22, 2012.

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Although [[Arkansas State Senate|Arkansas senators]] typically serve four-year terms, they are elected to a two-year term during the first election of the decade. Thus, rather than only half of all senators being up for election, all sitting members will be on the ballot in November.

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Although [[Arkansas State Senate|Arkansas senators]] typically serve four-year terms, they are elected to a two-year term during the first election of the decade. Thus, rather than only half of all senators being up for election, all sitting members were on the ballot in November.

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Races have begun forming earlier than usual this year as [[Democrats]] attempt to reassert themselves after losing seats in both chambers in 2010. [[Republicans]] are also campaigning early in hopes of gaining control of the legislature.<ref>[http://arkansasnews.com/2011/08/21/races-forming-early-for-control-of-legislature/ ''Arkansasnews.com'', "Races forming early for control of Legislature" August 21, 2011]</ref> Republicans may be hoping to capitalize on U.S. President Barack Obama's low approval ratings in Arkansas, while Democrats are likely planning to use their historical advantage in the state and focus on local issues. Control of the legislature will not decide which party is legally the "majority" party in the state, however; that status can only be claimed through winning a majority of the seven constitutional offices in the state, which will be decided again in 2014.<ref>[http://www.thecitywire.com/?q=node/17364 ''The City Wire'', "Battle begun for control of Arkansas Legislature," August 22, 2011]</ref>

Heading into the November 6 election, the Democratic Party holds the majority in the [[Arkansas State Senate]]:

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Heading into the November 6 election, the Democratic Party held the majority in the [[Arkansas State Senate]]:

{{arsenatepartisan12}}

{{arsenatepartisan12}}

==Incumbents retiring==

==Incumbents retiring==

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==Term limits==

==Term limits==

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[[File:salmon_m.jpg|thumb|[[Mary Salmon]] has represented District 31 of the [[Arkansas State Senate]] since 2003.]]

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[[File:salmon_m.jpg|thumb|[[Mary Salmon]] represented District 31 of the [[Arkansas State Senate]] from 2003 until 2013. She was ineligible to run for re-election in 2012.]]

::''See also [[State legislatures with term limits]], and [[Impact of term limits on state senate elections in 2012]]''

::''See also [[State legislatures with term limits]], and [[Impact of term limits on state senate elections in 2012]]''

The [[Arkansas State Senate]] has been a term-limited state senate since Arkansas voters approved the [[Arkansas Term Limits Initiative, Amendment 4 (1992)|Arkansas Term Limits Initiative]] in 1992 as an {{icafull}}.

The [[Arkansas State Senate]] has been a term-limited state senate since Arkansas voters approved the [[Arkansas Term Limits Initiative, Amendment 4 (1992)|Arkansas Term Limits Initiative]] in 1992 as an {{icafull}}.

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There are 35 [[Arkansas State Senator]]s, all of whom will be up for re-election in November. In 2012, 10 of them who are [[:Category:Current members of state senates|current members]], or 28.6% of the total senate seats, (7 [[Democratic]] state senators and 3 [[Republican]] state senators) will be ineligible to run for the senate again in November.

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There are 35 [[Arkansas State Senator]]s, all of whom were up for re-election in November. In 2012, 10 of them who were [[:Category:Current members of state senates|current members]], or 28.6% of the total senate seats, (7 [[Democratic]] state senators and 3 [[Republican]] state senators) were ineligible to run for the senate again in November.

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In addition to the 10 state senators who are leaving office because of Arkansas's term limits, [[Impact of term limits on state representative elections in 2012#Arkansas|23 state representatives are also termed-out]].

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In addition to the 10 state senators who left office because of Arkansas's term limits, [[Impact of term limits on state representative elections in 2012#Arkansas|23 state representatives were also termed-out]].

'''Democrats (7):'''

'''Democrats (7):'''

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==Impact of redistricting==

==Impact of redistricting==

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Governor [[Mike Beebe]]'s redistricting maps were approved 2-1 in August 2011. [[Democrat]]s Beebe and Attorney General [[Dustin McDaniel]] voted yes, while [[Republican]] Secretary of State [[Mark Martin]] did not approve. Martin and others have criticized the maps' impacts on the representative districts of the [[Arkansas House of Representatives]]. Beebe's map reduces the number of districts with an African American majority from 13 to 11 and pits four pairs of incumbents against each other in 2012. Martin's map would have increased the number of districts with an African American majority to 15 and would have only paired 3 sets of incumbents in 2012. Senator [[Hank Wilkins]] defended the current maps, claiming "In order for us to keep three districts (in southeastern Arkansas), in essence the percentage of African-Americans would be so low that in my mind we would not really have majority-minority districts. "We'd have districts that, conceivably we could lose all three African-Americans (in the House), and I was not willing to take that chance."<ref name="redist">[http://www.swtimes.com/state_news/article_669ff63a-ba5e-11e0-96de-001cc4c002e0.html ''Southwest Times'' "State District Maps OK’d", July 30, 2011]</ref>

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Governor [[Mike Beebe]]'s redistricting maps were approved 2-1 in August 2011. [[Democrat]]s Beebe and Attorney General [[Dustin McDaniel]] voted yes, while [[Republican]] Secretary of State [[Mark Martin]] did not approve. Martin and others have criticized the maps' impacts on the representative districts of the [[Arkansas House of Representatives]]. Beebe's map reduces the number of districts with an African American majority from 13 to 11 and pits four pairs of incumbents against each other in 2012. Martin's map would have increased the number of districts with an African American majority to 15 and would have only paired 3 sets of incumbents in 2012. Senator [[Hank Wilkins]] defended the current maps, claiming "In order for us to keep three districts (in southeastern Arkansas), in essence the percentage of African-Americans would be so low that in my mind we would not really have majority-minority districts. "We'd have districts that, conceivably we could lose all three African-Americans (in the House), and I was not willing to take that chance."<ref name="redist">[http://www.swtimes.com/state_news/article_669ff63a-ba5e-11e0-96de-001cc4c002e0.html ''Southwest Times'' "State District Maps OK’d," July 30, 2011]</ref>

Redistricting has lesser impacts in the [[Arkansas State Senate]], maintaining the current number of African American dominated districts at four. It also pairs no incumbents against each other in 2012.<ref name="redist"/>

Redistricting has lesser impacts in the [[Arkansas State Senate]], maintaining the current number of African American dominated districts at four. It also pairs no incumbents against each other in 2012.<ref name="redist"/>

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In 2010, candidates running for senate raised a total of $3,771,126 in campaign funds. Their top 10 contributors were: <ref>[http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/state_candidates.phtml?s=AR&y=2010&f=S ''Follow the Money'': "Arkansas Senate 2010 Campaign Contributions"]</ref>

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In 2010, candidates running for senate raised a total of $3,771,126 in campaign funds. Their top 10 contributors were:<ref>[http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/state_candidates.phtml?s=AR&y=2010&f=S ''Follow the Money'': "Arkansas Senate 2010 Campaign Contributions"]</ref>

{{legislative donor box}}

{{legislative donor box}}

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| align="right" | $133,512

| align="right" | $133,512

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|-

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| [[Arkansas Health Care Association]]

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| [[Arkansas Healthcare Association]]

| align="right" | $113,000

| align="right" | $113,000

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|-

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==List of candidates==

==List of candidates==

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{{Candidate list noteA|Date=July 3, 2012}}

===District 1===

===District 1===

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Incumbent Republican [[Johnny Key]] is running for re-election in District 17.

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Incumbent Republican [[Johnny Key]] won re-election in District 17.

:{{bluedot}} <u>'''May 22 Democratic primary:</u>

:{{bluedot}} <u>'''May 22 Democratic primary:</u>

:* No candidates filed.

:* No candidates filed.

:{{reddot}} <u>'''May 22 GOP primary:</u>

:{{reddot}} <u>'''May 22 GOP primary:</u>

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:*[[Bart Hester]] 4,506 {{approved}}

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:*[[Bart Hester]]: 4,506 {{approved}}

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:*[[Tim Summers]] 3,869 - Summers was first elected to House District 99 in 2008.

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:*[[Tim Summers]]: 3,869

<u>'''''November 6 General election candidates:'''''</u>

<u>'''''November 6 General election candidates:'''''</u>

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:*{{reddot}} [[Bart Hester]]

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:*{{reddot}} [[Bart Hester]] {{won}}

===District 2===

===District 2===

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<u>'''''November 6 General election candidates:'''''</u>

<u>'''''November 6 General election candidates:'''''</u>

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:*{{reddot}} [[Jim Hendren]]

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:*{{reddot}} [[Jim Hendren]] {{won}}

===District 3===

===District 3===

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:{{reddot}} <u>'''May 22 GOP primary:</u>

:{{reddot}} <u>'''May 22 GOP primary:</u>

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:*[[Cecile Bledsoe]] {{approved}} - Incumbent Bledsoe was first elected to Senate District 8 in 2008.

:'''''Note:''' [[Tommy Caubble]] passed away in early July. The Republican Party will choose a replacement nominee by special convention.<ref>[http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2012/07/05/senate-candidate-tommy-caubble-dead-at-65 ''Arkansas Times,'' "Senate candidate Tommy Caubble dead at 65," July 5, 2012]</ref>

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:*{{reddot}} [[Ronald Caldwell]]: 13,798 {{won}}

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:'''''Note:''' [[Tommy Caubble]] passed away in early July. The Republican Party chose Caldwell to run in his place.<ref>[http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2012/07/05/senate-candidate-tommy-caubble-dead-at-65 ''Arkansas Times,'' "Senate candidate Tommy Caubble dead at 65," July 5, 2012]</ref>

===District 24===

===District 24===

Incumbent Democrat [[Jimmy Jeffress]] was ineligible to run for re-election due to term limits.

Incumbent Democrat [[Jimmy Jeffress]] was ineligible to run for re-election due to term limits.

:{{bluedot}} <u>'''May 22 Democratic primary:</u>

:{{bluedot}} <u>'''May 22 Democratic primary:</u>

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:*[[Jack Crumbly]] - Incumbent Crumbly was first elected to Senate District 16 in 2006.

The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was March 1, 2012. The primary election day was May 22, 2012.

Although Arkansas senators typically serve four-year terms, they are elected to a two-year term during the first election of the decade. Thus, rather than only half of all senators being up for election, all sitting members were on the ballot in November.

Impact of redistricting

Governor Mike Beebe's redistricting maps were approved 2-1 in August 2011. Democrats Beebe and Attorney General Dustin McDaniel voted yes, while Republican Secretary of State Mark Martin did not approve. Martin and others have criticized the maps' impacts on the representative districts of the Arkansas House of Representatives. Beebe's map reduces the number of districts with an African American majority from 13 to 11 and pits four pairs of incumbents against each other in 2012. Martin's map would have increased the number of districts with an African American majority to 15 and would have only paired 3 sets of incumbents in 2012. Senator Hank Wilkins defended the current maps, claiming "In order for us to keep three districts (in southeastern Arkansas), in essence the percentage of African-Americans would be so low that in my mind we would not really have majority-minority districts. "We'd have districts that, conceivably we could lose all three African-Americans (in the House), and I was not willing to take that chance."[1]

Redistricting has lesser impacts in the Arkansas State Senate, maintaining the current number of African American dominated districts at four. It also pairs no incumbents against each other in 2012.[1]

Campaign contributions

This chart shows how many candidates ran for state senate in Arkansas in past years and the cumulative amount of campaign contributions in state senate races, including contributions in both primary and general election contests. All figures come from Follow The Money.[2]

Year

Number of candidates

Total contributions

2010

38

$3,771,126

2008

23

$2,251,735

2006

27

$1,546,556

2004

26

$1,250,204

2002

64

$2,693,862

In 2010, candidates running for senate raised a total of $3,771,126 in campaign funds. Their top 10 contributors were:[3]

Qualifications

Article 5, Section 4 of the Arkansas Constitution states: No person shall be a Senator or Representative who, at the time of his election, is not a citizen of the United States, nor any one who has not been for two years next preceding his election, a resident of this State, and for one year next preceding his election, a resident of the county or district whence he may be chosen. Senators shall be at least twenty-five years of age, and Representatives at least twenty-one years of age.